Step 2: Themes and Design

Step 1 completed and on to the fun part. It’s time to pick your look! Your design is your reader’s first impression of YOU. Pick something unique, inviting, and easy to navigate so your reader’s keep craving more.

When I first started, my talented friend, Erin from Designer Blogs, gave me a fun, bright, and energetic design. I want my readers to know healthy living and eating is enjoyable and doable (promise!).

As my photography improves, I want my photos to be the star of the show and not be distracted by my design. I decided to change my design for a more simple, sleek, and elegant look from Elegant Themes. I’m loving their ‘smartest and most flexible’ theme, Divi, and it’s functionality.

There are thousands of themes available to make design quick and easy. Since I didn’t know what a theme was, I’m going to make it as simple as possible. Basically, a theme provides all of the front end styling of your site, like page layouts, fonts and colors. They are easily downloaded to your site. Here’s a tutorial for downloading a theme.

In addition to my own thoughts, I’ve asked a few of my successful blogger friends about what themes and design options they have loved. If you’re not ready to purchase a theme (most are pretty affordable), WordPress has several FREE options. Check them out here.

StudioPress has some very popular themes. The Genesis Framework and Foodie Pro(which actually includes the Genesis Framework as a packaged deal) are some of the most common themes used by bloggers. Also, Foodie Pro is not just for food bloggers. It’s an incredibly flexible theme for any blogging style.

You also have the option to design your own theme. Popular bloggers Amber fromDessert Now Dinner Later and Ashlee from Ashlee Marie have had great success with Dynamik Website Builder. You can easily adjust font, colors, layouts, etc. without needing to know any code (that’s all those numbers and letters web developers know how to jumble together). Check out their designs!

Now if you’re like me and want to let the experts do the heavy lifting, you should check out Designer Blogs. Erin and her team of talented designers will make sure you LOVE your design (I know I did). There are pre-made designs or you can custom make exactly what you want. She makes the process incredibly simple.

You have your blog all set up and looking beautiful. I know you’re itching to write some content! Trust me… I’m anxious for you to get to that part too. There’s just one more step before you start posting to the world. It’s time for Step 3 on Plugins (ways to extend and add to the functionality that already exists on your site).